The Peaceful Mompreneur
Encouraging and equipping Christian Mompreneurs to have peace in their lives and business while staying grounded in Jesus Christ.
The Peaceful Mompreneur
Empowering Your Voice: A practical Guide to overcome overwhelm
Feel like you’re drowning in the chaos of motherhood and business? You’re not alone! In this episode, I’m chatting with the incredible Chantel Santiago—wife, mom, co-founder of Born to Rule Global, and author of The Voice of a Queen.
Pre-order Chantal's Book "The Voice of a Queen" ► ► https://a.co/d/eouirBU
Join the Virtual Launch Summit! ► ► https://voiceofaqueen.com/
Grab the Healthy Sustainable Weekly Rhythm Guide for Busy Moms ► ► https://aliesehalcomb.com/weeklyrhythms
Chantal is here to remind us that true peace isn’t about everything being quiet and perfect—it’s about divine alignment in our life, business, and faith.
Chantel gets real about the power of our words and how they shape our reality. She shares why overwhelm is actually a strategy of the enemy to keep us distracted from our calling—and how we can shift from survival mode to a mission-driven life. We also talk about practical ways to re-align our priorities, set boundaries, and embrace grace in the messy middle.
If you’re ready to stop striving and start stepping into the peace God has for you, this conversation is for you! Don’t forget to check out Chantel’s book, The Voice of a Queen, at voiceofaqueen.com for even more wisdom on walking in your God-given authority.
Hit play, take a deep breath, and let’s do this together!
Grab the Healthy Sustainable Weekly Rhythm Guide for Busy Moms ► ► https://aliesehalcomb.com/weeklyrhythms
Hello everyone. We're super excited that you're joining us today. For the Peaceful Mompreneur. I have a wonderful guest, chantel Chantel. No, I should ask you how you say your last name, I'm sorry, santiago, santiago, chantel Santiago. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm usually more on board than this. You're fine, it's mom life right? Yes, yes, santiago, chantel Santiago. Okay, all right. Hey everyone, we're super excited that you are joining us today for the Peaceful Mompreneur. Today I have a guest, chantel Santiago, and I am thrilled to introduce her to you.
Speaker 1:She is a bold kingdom communicator, inspiring author of the Voice of a Queen Unleashing the power of a purposeful, of purposeful words, and devoted wife, mother and co-founder of born to rule global. Along with her husband, christian, she empowers faith-driven women to embrace their god-given authority and unlock their fullest potential by drawing them into a vibrant, experiential understanding of the kingdom of God, a realm where divine power, anointing and freedom manifest on earth as they do in heaven. Through her passionate heart-sharing, speaking of the raw sharing of her own journey of faith, its struggles, victories and hard-won lessons, chantel reveals how utilizing faith, boldness and an assured identity can transform lives, break chains and activate heavenly power here on earth. Her deepest desire is to see a generation of women rise up as living testimonies of God's love, conquer obstacles and change the world, one courageous, kingdom-driven step at a time. So, chantel, we're super happy to have you here. So this is super great. Why don't you tell everybody what it is that you do specifically and why in the world do you do it?
Speaker 2:Well, it's very interesting that you ask that question First of all. Oh my goodness me, elise. Thank you so much for having me. It is so great to be here with you. I have been looking forward to our time and you know, it's interesting that you start with that question because it always kind of tickles me a little bit when I hear that question. Right, it's just like Chantal, who are you? And it's like always when people ask I don't know if you've noticed this, but it's just like whenever people ask you, tell me about yourself or who are you.
Speaker 2:Isn't it funny how we automatically go to talk about all of the things that we do, and I have been so challenged lately to really begin to focus on, rather than saying all of the things we do, actually talk about who I am as far as like, what makes me me like, what are the things that I am, and so I will tell you I absolutely, 100%, always say that before I say anything else first and foremost, I am a daughter of the king of kings. Before I got that, before I say anything else, first and foremost, I am a daughter of the King of Kings. Before I got married, before I had all my lovely kiddos, and I make it sound like there's so many of them. There's actually only two, but that's okay. Before that, I was a daughter. I still am a daughter. I'm a daughter of the King of Kings, which makes me royalty, which makes me co-heirs to the throne with Christ, and so, first and foremost, I always love to say that I am a daughter, because I am a daughter, I'm a daughter of my parents, but I'm also a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Speaker 2:I am also, as you mentioned, a wife to my incredible husband, christian. We've been married for nine years, almost. Oh, my goodness, wow, it has been a ride. My husband is from Florida, born and raised, he is Puerto Rican hence the last name, santiago, and not the Hispanic or American accent at all and I am originally from Australia. So two crazy kids fell in love, got married and I ended up moving to the other side of the world. And I'm also a mom to my two beautiful children, zion and Zara. Zion is three and a half and Zara is one and a half, and they are just the joys of my life and just keep me busy.
Speaker 2:I am also a co-founder of Born to Rule Global, but more than anything, born to Rule Global is really just who we are. It's who we are as a family but, more importantly, as a couple. Christian initially wrote a book called Born to Rule, reclaiming your God-given birthright to rule here on earth. And out of that I just went to him and I just said, babe, I'm so proud of you. And he's like, I found my life message. And I said, well, that's great, but you've actually found both of our life, in fact, found our family's life message. You found what our family is going to be known for. And I will tell you these two little kiddos that we've got that is exactly the life that they are already starting to live. So, anyway, that's a little bit about me and, yeah, what I've got going on.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. Okay, so I want to dive into that a little bit more, about your family. Right, it sounds like you have a family mission, like what your whole family is working towards. So, like you said, your kids are one and a half and three and a half, correct? Yes yes, how do you live that out practically with little people in your life?
Speaker 2:Right. So I will tell you one thing you know and this is something that my husband and I have been so blessed to be able to walk other couples through it doesn't matter if they've been married for 25 years we actually have had helped people have been married for a lot longer than us but it doesn't matter if people are engaged, wanting to get married or just about to get married or just married and they're just wanting some direction. You know, one of the things that we always tell them is that mission is critical for a healthy marriage. Mission is critical for a healthy marriage, and you know I will tell you this. And you know I will tell you this. We came together for a mission, on a mission, for a mission, and the reason why we know this to be so important when it comes to the kingdom of God is that when we tell people that we didn't like, we didn't come together for love, we didn't come together for happiness.
Speaker 2:People are almost like shocked, like what did you just say? But the reason why we say this is because you look at love. If you look at happiness, beautiful feelings, but they're feelings nonetheless, and so when the chips are down, when things are tough, the love is not always there, and most certainly not happiness. Let me tell you. There have been a few times where I've wanted to wring my husband's neck. I'm going to be honest with you guys today, is that okay? But I will tell you that we will always get through it, and the reason why we will always get through it, regardless of the feelings that may be fleeting, is that mission will sustain you when love and happiness disappear, mission will always sustain you, practically.
Speaker 2:What does that look like now that we have a family? Well, one of the things that we love to do with our kids is we just created a list of daily mantras or values you might want to call them values. We have daily mantras, and we have one in my son's room, one in my daughter's room, and so we read these to the kids and we make it lots of fun, but it's instilling in them from a very young age that this is who we are, this is how we operate, and so it's just one thing that we get to do with these kids and instill in them the values that we hold as a family and who we represent when you you start talking about god that's so great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's very practical especially when they're so little right like not, it's hard to do a lot with one and a half and three and a half listen it's got to be fun it's got to be engaging, it's got to be a good time smiling yes, yes, absolutely it's, but that's very practical, like we just read, we talk about it, it is a part of our life, the way that the bible tells us like read our you know, recite scripture when you lay down, when you're walking, when you're you know, up all those things, and so just doing that with your life verses or with your life mission, like that's super great, very practical. Yeah, so this is, um, obviously called the peaceful mompreneur, right, right? So let's talk a little bit about peace. Yeah, so many people define peace as simply the absence of stress or chaos. So what is your approach on true peace and can you explain what it really looks like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. So. Here's the thing with true peace, right. So we often think that you know, when we think about peace, we often think of peace as the absence of noise, hey, you know, the absence of conflict or busyness, but really, at the end of the day, true peace is actually divine order. So, as a mom, that means true peace is actually when your home, when your business and when your spirit are actually aligned with God's word, not overwhelmed by the weight of the world.
Speaker 2:And if you feel yourself constantly catching up and cleaning up and barely keeping up, that's not peace. It's not. That's actually called survival, survival 101 at its best right. But here's the thing God never called us just to survive. He called you to walk in dominion. That was his very first instruction when he created man was to walk in dominion. And I even think of the scripture in um, second thessalonians, chapter three, where it says now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, in every way. The Lord be with you all. And so that just tells me really that peace isn't found in a perfectly planned schedule. It's actually found in your ability to surrender control to God and align your actions with his wisdom.
Speaker 2:You know, I think of myself, for an example. Like I used to think that peace meant getting everything under control. I did, I really did, but that was until I realized that peace is actually about surrendering the control to God, and the more I tried to force peace, the more exhausted I became. Really, let's talk about it for a second right. The more you try and force it, the more exhausted and the more tired you find yourself, and so what I did was, instead of asking myself, how can I manage all of this? Any how question is usually a question to ask, right.
Speaker 2:So what I found was that, instead of asking myself, man, how can I manage all of this? I started asking what is God actually calling me to focus on, and I began to let go of the things that he never assigned to me. When you start to do that, when you start to actually switch and flip the script and say God, can you show me what I am actually meant to be focusing on, then you will find that things actually begin to change for you, and so I would encourage you to ask yourself where in your life are you trying to force peace instead of receiving it through alignment? God's plan force peace instead of receiving it through alignment, god's plan. Where are you trying to force it? And maybe that is the area that you need to bring back into alignment with God's plans for your life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, that's super good. So what would you tell somebody who did feel like they were out overwhelmed and books, basically right, and you're asking the lord like, what should I let go of? What do you have? What would advice would you tell them to how to get back on track, how to start letting some things go? What does that look like? And what did it look like for you?
Speaker 2:it's going to be uncomfortable. That is the first thing, right. But at the end of the day, you know as moms, as wives, as entrepreneurs, as whatever it is that you're putting your hands to right. We have so much vying for our attention and, at the end of the day, you can only do so much in a 24-hour period, and so I would say the thing that I did that helped me the most was I found myself making a list of everything that I was doing. Every day just looks completely different. So don't worry about doing a whole week, Just do one day. Write down all of the things that you do just for an exercise. Write down everything that you do in one day just to see what you are actually spending your time on, and it will become very easy for you to see.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I don't need to be on social media for four hours just scrolling for the sake of scrolling. Like you know, even now, I find myself in a position where I am busy. I have a lot vying for my attention, so, even something that I am currently doing, I have to prioritize the things that are the most important. What are the things that are actually going to affect where God is taking me as an individual, and so it's not individualism in the sense, because as a family we are moving towards the same mission. But God knows that I have a role to play in that, and so I know my role. And if you don't know your role, then spend some time with God and get it clear, because then you're going to know right.
Speaker 2:You can't move anywhere, and quite often that is actually why we're in a state of chaos, because we don't have clarity in where we're heading, and that's why we'll take on more and take on more. But if you get clarity on where you are heading, then you will very clearly be able to be like this is not for me. I can say no to this. I've got comfortable saying no. That's the biggest thing for me. I've got comfortable saying no. So it's a co laborship with God. Listen to what it is that he's asking you to get rid of. Don't run away from being uncomfortable and get comfortable being uncomfortable and get comfortable saying no. That would be my advice.
Speaker 1:I love it. Yes, and those are. That's a great advice and those are definitely skills that we have to learn and you're not going to get good at it until you just start doing it. It's a muscle. Just say it. Say no and be uncomfortable, because everyone's going to like you saying no, especially if you've said yes a lot. So everyone will have to relearn your boundaries.
Speaker 2:Right, and I think that comes back to the clarity piece too. Right, because if you don't know where you're going, then you can't say no confidently. But if you know where you're going and you know what God is doing in your life and through your life, regardless of if you have kiddos or you're married, it doesn't matter what situation you're in If you have clarity on where God is heading, like taking you and leading you, then what happens is it actually becomes quite easy for you to say no to anything that doesn't align with that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. That's great. That's really wonderful advice. Yeah, Overwhelmed right what we're talking about it really feels like a regular part of so many women's lives. Um, you talk to somebody and it's like a badge of armor, oh yeah, a badge of honor. Like how busy, I don't know, I can't handle all these kids. Like it should not be a brag, but it is right. So what do you? But do you when you say it's actually a strategy of the enemy? Why?
Speaker 1:do you think that the enemy uses the overwhelm as a weapon, and how can we break free from that?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So if you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, unsure about your calling, it's actually not by accident. That's what I tell people all the time. It is not by accident, believe it or not. The enemy actually doesn't have to destroy you, he just has to distract you. Doesn't have to destroy you, he just has to distract you.
Speaker 2:I know it says in the Word of God that he is out to steal, to kill and destroy, and he does that. But part of how he destroys is by distracting you. And so if he can keep you tired, if he can keep you discouraged, if he can keep you doubting yourself, then you're never going to fully step into the authority that God has already given you and that is exactly what he wants. So I referenced this just before, but actually John 10, 10, the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I've come that. But Jesus says that I have come, that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly. And I would say to that God never intended for you to live in a state of constant exhaustion, anxiety, striving. You were actually created to operate from peace, not chaos, and the enemy wants to overwhelm you, because an exhausted woman is a silent woman. Exhausted woman is a silent woman. And a silent woman is a woman who does not declare, does not step up, won't take dominion. And that's the reality of the situation.
Speaker 2:And I mean I even think when I was writing my first like when I first started writing the book the Voice of a Queen I found it tough. I'm not going to lie. I have two little ones that were vying for my attention. They needed my attention all the time and I'm trying to do all of the things around the house and be a good wife and make sure the meals are done, the kitchen's clean and the washing's done and all of the things. And I actually started to feel so drained, started to feel so drained, but I actually started to feel so drained that I started to question if I had even heard God right about my calling. I thought that, you know, maybe I was pushing too hard and maybe I was trying to do it in my own strength. Oh, my goodness, don't even get me started on that. Maybe I wasn't even supposed to step out.
Speaker 2:But that wasn't God, like that was actually the enemy. That was, he was trying to keep me small, he was trying to get me overwhelmed. You know, at the end of it all, overwhelm is real, but you don't have to accept it. And so, if you're feeling overwhelmed, I would suggest and this is something that I have had to do stop and ask yourself is this an attack to my silence? Is this also an attack on my voice? Is this an attack to keep me from speaking and using my voice that I've been given? And so what's an area where the enemy has convinced you to stay silent in your life, like where have you been playing small because exhaustion has made you question your calling? That's what I would say, and the reality of that is that if the enemy is fighting you hard in this season, it's because he sees the impact that your voice and your life, your business and your faith has. And so I would say that, if you're feeling overwhelmed, that's not the time to shrink back. It's actually the time to press in and press forward.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's really encouraging. I love that so much. So you were talking about how, like when you started writing your book, you were feeling that way. So how did you get out of that funk? Like what did you do?
Speaker 2:I had to pull myself out of it because I realized I called it for what it was. Because the thing is, if you see a vision clearly, like if god gives you a vision and you can see it clearly, there's a reason for that and that means that it's on God's heart for you. If you can't see a vision clearly that God has given you, there's probably a good reason for that. Maybe it's not actually on his heart for you. So the opposite can be true as well. Right, but if God gives you a vision and you can see it clearly, that means it is on God's heart for you. And God knows the end from the beginning. He knows the end from the beginning. He created the end from the beginning. He wrote your story, and so because of that your story, and so because of that, he will show you visions of things that he has on his heart for you, things to come, and it's up to us to either remember that vision or succumb to the attacks that are happening.
Speaker 2:But the choice is ultimately up to us. What we do with that is totally up to us. Yes, part of that is obedience, but it's also decision as well. It's a decision that we have been given to make. We can either stay in this place of stuck right and so many women use the word stuck I'm stuck, I feel stuck, but the reality of that is, if you are somebody that is feeling stuck, I would say what language are you using? What are you allowing to come out of your mouth? What's the words that you are speaking over your situations? And are you actually clinging on to the vision that God has shown you? Or maybe it wasn't a vision, maybe it was a word that he gave you, maybe it was a promise that he gave you and said this is what I have for you. Are you hanging on to that, or are you letting your circumstances dominate you rather than you take dominion over it?
Speaker 1:Amen, that's super good. Yeah, I've often talked a little bit about obedience and like whenever I get really stuck or if I'm talking to a client that's really stuck and it's like sometimes it's obedience for obedience sake.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:You do it, you do it you do it Right. He told you to and almost for no other reason, because obviously, and then when you push through it and you get through that problem, you feel stuck.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:There will be light on the other side of that Right and you'll find another. You know hill to climb over but keep coming, All right. But to climb over, but keep coming, all right. But they get yes to continue through. Absolutely have all of that that you saw in the past where he got you through it. Thanks yeah yeah, that's so awesome. All right, so tell us about your book, okay, yeah, it should be coming out soon, so we're very excited.
Speaker 2:Tell us all about it well, oh, my goodness, this, this, just I've got to explain something to you. I didn't just wake up one day and be like I'm going to write a book today. No, actually, quite the opposite. I've got enough to look. You know, I've got enough to do right now.
Speaker 2:You know, my husband is actually an author, as I mentioned earlier, he has written three books, not just one. He's written three books, and Born to Rule is definitely the best by far, and I feel like that. You know, I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. In fact, I feel like, as his wife, I have to be completely honest with him, and if he wrote a book that sucked, I would feel obligation, that I would. Well, I need to tell him, babe, I think you missed it there. So, no, but like, born to Rule is actually one of the best books that I've actually read, and I don't say that lightly.
Speaker 2:I'm a very big reader, and so when it came time for me to let's just say hear God say the words, chantal, it's time to write a book. Let's just say hear God say the words, chantal, it's time to write a book, I may have argued with God and I may have not been obedient straight away. I knew I needed to do it right, but I also didn't want to, and I was being like a little child, kicking and screaming. Well, I didn't win that argument. Let's just say that Sometimes it's just better to let God win, guys. Just letting you know. Anyway, that's my, that's my preface before I say this. Right, but when it comes to the voice of the queen, you know, unleashing the power of purposeful words at the end of it all. For me, my heart for this book and the reason why I even wrote it is and I even get emotional thinking about it because I have just seen too many women live beneath their calling, Not because God did not equip them, but because their words never aligned with what he had already declared over them.
Speaker 2:Like I, have literally watched women praying for breakthrough while speaking defeat. I've watched women sit there and wait for doors to open while their silence is actually the thing that's keeping those doors shut. I've watched women believe in God's promises while cursing their own future with their own words. And I just hit breaking point. In the last year or so I have hit breaking point because I refuse to watch another woman hold herself back because she doesn't realize the power of her voice. And really the voice of a queen is a wake-up call. That's what it is. It's a wake-up call. It's a call to take dominion over your life, your circumstances and your future by harnessing the weapon that your words are. And believe me when I tell you I know what it's like to believe it for breakthrough while battling fear. It's something that I have walked many, many times.
Speaker 2:But the biggest one that I think of is when my son Zion, when he was young and he was faced with all of the labels thrown at him learning delays. There were so many things that were thrown at him, but you know he had oral sensory delays and that affected his eating, it affected his speaking, it affected it all and everything was being thrown at him and I remember I was praying with faith, but what I was doing was I was wrestling with fear because I wasn't seeing any change and I felt the weight of waiting for the change, the exhaustion I felt, the exhaustion of wondering if my words actually truly carried power. But once everything started to shift, it was because I had changed my words and as things started to shift, that is actually when I stopped wavering. I refused, like I hit a point where I was like I refuse to let doubt have the final say, I refuse. And I began to speak faith over him. And at that point I aligned my words with God's word.
Speaker 2:And it's the same with women. I'm on a mission now to help women break free from silence. I'm on a mission to help women take dominion and unleash the power of their voices, because heaven, at the end of the day, is already waiting to move on your words. So it's not just a message, this book. It's actually a mandate, a very strong mandate, right With that kind of title the voice of a queen. It's actually a mandate because the moment a woman actually takes hold of her voice, she takes hold of her destiny.
Speaker 2:And if your life is not where you want it to be. Start by listening to the words that you've been speaking, because I mentioned it before but heaven's already spoken over you. But the reason why your breakthrough is not manifesting is it's not going to manifest until you do so. It's time to stop shrinking back, women. It's time to stop doubting, it's time to stop waiting and it's time to actually start to speak. And I would get you to ask yourself this today If you truly believed that your voice carried kingdom authority, how would you speak differently today? How would you speak differently today? How would you speak differently today? Because when your words are aligned with God's word, that's when everything begins to change. So, anyway, this book is my heart and soul. I have poured into it, so you've got to get your hands on it and make sure you get it for another woman that you know that needs it as well. Every woman needs to read this, especially as a believer, especially as a Christian woman, especially as a mom.
Speaker 1:I will say All right, that's awesome. So where can we find this? Where can we connect with you?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely Okay. So the easiest way is to head on over to voiceofaqueencom. Go over there. So, officially, my book launches on April the 8th and, oh my goodness, I am so, so excited for it to launch. I have had so many people sending me testimonies already. They've had their chance to get their hands on the introduction and chapter one, and I want to do the same thing for you. So we're actually going to be doing a virtual launch summit and I want to invite you personally to come along and help me celebrate the launch of my new book, the Voice of a Queen.
Speaker 2:So that's going to be on April the 8th. It's going to be a virtual, so, as I said, it's going to be online. I'm going to be bringing some incredible, powerful friends of mine and they're going to be sharing just how the power of words has been able to help them as well. And as a free gift for you guys for signing up for that, I will actually give you the introduction and chapter one for free so you can get your hands on it. But once you've put your email in there, we'll also be able to let you know, like when pre-order is available and all that sort of thing. So voiceofaqueencom, and then, if you want to connect with me on instagram, you'll be able to click on the instagram icon on that page and it will take you straight there, and you can find me on instagram and facebook perfect, okay, awesome.
Speaker 1:So we'll have all of that linked in the description so that everybody can get a hold of that and know when your book is coming out and be at your virtual party. It's super, super exciting, yes, ok. One last question you were in front of one or a group, it doesn't matter. Yeah, a young mom with a business. What are any last words of encouragement that you would give them if you just had a cut, like a minute or so, to tell them something?
Speaker 2:give yourself grace. Give yourself grace. It's only temporary and it's only for a season. If you've got little ones, they're only going to be little for a short amount of time and it will get easier. Give yourself grace.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. Love it. Short and sweet and definitely to the point. I love it. Okay Well, Chantel, thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yes, this was so good, all righty. Well, we'll talk to everyone next time. Bye, guys.